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state politics Tom Richardson When no publicity is no publicity P erhaps it’s just me. After all, I work in the media industry, a sector whose inhabitants occasionally tend to view the world through their own prism of experience. It is, I suppose, entirely possible that there are ordinary folk out there with no concept or, indeed, interest, in media deadlines, no clue as to what constitutes an ideal TV “grab” and no design on courting publicity. Nonetheless, I still find it truly surprising sometimes – breathtaking, even – to see the lengths to which some individuals and organisations appear to go to court bad publicity. The case in point this week is the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (the CEPU) or, to be fair, the branch of it that handles the electrical and plumbing trades. The union has long opposed, both here and nationally, a 2006 COAG agreement to allow school-based apprenticeship training, a stance that has industry insiders and the business lobby up in arms. So much so, in fact, that they’ve taken the union to the Industrial Relations Commission, to try and force it to change its state award and allow students who want to train in these specific trades the chance to do so. The plot thickens, too. Around 80 per cent of South Australian businesses fall under the federal award, which allows school-based electrical and plumbing training. Only sole traders and partners remain in thrall to the state arrangement, which doesn’t permit them to take school-based apprentices. So we can, and do, have instances where two students in the same classroom want to train as an electrician or plumber, but only one is allowed to do so, because his or her prospective employer is covered by the federal award! This all came to light this week when the National Electrical and Communications Association kicked up a fuss, decrying the union’s stance as “ideological”. The Opposition joined in the chorus of, well, opposition. Business SA’s Peter Vaughan wailed that the “inmates have taken over the asylum”. And to all that, the union said… nothing. Not a word. Because the branch secretary, who was apparently the only guy qualified to comment, was away on leave. So too, was the Industrial Relations Minister, Paul Caica, whose staff at least put out a statement. No-one else, including umbrella organisation SA Unions, returned my calls. At some point, even the most fair-minded of reporters (which I like to think I am) has to concede that it’s not his or her job to make a union look good, if the union can’t manage this seemingly simple task by itself. So the story ran, without rebuttal from the CEPU. Now, I’ve no gripe with people taking holidays – hell, I had one myself last week! But you have to Commissioning Engineer • South Australia’s most prestigious power projects • Technically challenging work, support further training • Medium sized privately owned, close knit team culture This highly respected and fi rmly established consultancy continues to go from strength to strength. With totally secure ongoing work, through an alliance contract, their future stability is secure and provides an ideal platform for new projects and further growth. As a result of their expansion and recent project awards they are looking to recruit an experienced High Voltage Commissioning Engineer. The successful candidate will have extensive power generation experience at the 132kV and above level and will hold a HV Switching License. Well versed in developing documentation and controlling drawings for installations to be commissioned you will carry out both factory acceptance testing and on site pre-commissioning and commissioning of new and refurbished plants. Completing “As Built” project documentation and maintaining accurate fi ling administration will be critical. Managing projects to time, cost and quality targets including fi nancial cash fl ow management is essential. With an impeccable and positive attitude and exemplary leadership and interpersonal skills you will need to clearly demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, liaise between company and client and build loyal client relationships. Some substation secondary system design and tender experience would be advantageous. Joining a close knit and highly technical team this is your opportunity to work on South Australia’s largest and most prestigious HV projects. This opportunity would suit a technically profi cient engineer focused on career development and working for a medium sized privately owned organisation. Further training and exposure to; design, project management, business development and man management would be positively encouraged. For more information regarding this position, please contact Chris Tan on 1300 764 271 or 0404 605 551. Alternatively send a copy of your CV to chris@ctconsult.com.au www.ctconsult.com.au Chris Tan Consulting AEROSPACE • ARCHITECTURE • CHEMICAL • CAD • CIVIL ELECTRICAL • ENVIRONMENTAL • MECHANICAL • STRUCTURAL wonder – if there’s only one person in the entire union organisation who can adequately explain why they’re opposing school-based apprenticeships… well, might that suggest their argument needs a bit of work? Otherwise, surely someone could have provided at least a background statement; after all, if the union holds to this view so strongly, it must be at least defendable, if not defensible. But wait, as the old DEMTEL ads used to say, there’s still more! The next day,while the world was watching America celebrate Barack Obama’s presidential baby-steps, a press release popped up in my email inbox, from SA Unions. This explained in great detail that the CEPU was committed to a “safety first” approach to training, and had “genuine concerns about the standards of safety and quality of training provided under school- based programs”. It even quoted SA Unions secretary, Janet Giles, saying that the CEPU was “not willing to sign up to a program that puts young lives at risk of serious injury and death”. Quite a helpful statement… if it had arrived about 24 hours earlier! Among his feisty critiques of the union’s attitude, Peter Vaughan told me their “bloody-mindedness” suggested an organisation stuck in the 17th century, rather than the 21st. That’s his opinion, not mine. But the union’s response certainly suggested a lack of familiarity with media requirements in our present day and age. in Fair enough: ay h: as I said, it’s not my prerogative to coerce a union into making a sta ement it doesn’t want to make. ing to let ot e to n into tement it o mak But I’m not going to let e stop me their reticence stop me y job from doing my job. mediaphobe ther Mind you, for every here’s a technocrat, who is acutely ossibilities aware of the possibilities nn afforded by canny manipulation lines. One of media deadlines. One suspects BHP Billiton might fall into the latter category; thetegory; the mining giant’s announcement dding 6000 jobs Billiton might s announcement that it was shedding 6000 jobs worldwide (around half of alia and 200 of with Obama’s inauguration egated it to te (at best) ins. Of day,which rele a mere footnote (a in most bulletins course, this may haay have just been a colossal piece of serendipity on the part of BHP’s media strategists, and an suggestion otherwise a cruel assumption on my part. I am, after all, a cynic It goes with the profession. ossal piece on the media d any herwise ption m, ic. e Senior Project Manager – Mining/Mechanical • $200K + Negotiable Salary • Adelaide Based - Mining & Metals Focus • Diversifi ed Portfolio of Clients & Projects Being one of the most prominent, respected and innovative engineering fi rms within the Asia- Pacifi c region has ensured our clients long term security and viability regardless of external and market driven factors. With unrivalled project diversity across varied industry sectors they have recently established themselves on the back of a number of major project wins as a signifi cant player within the mining and metals sector and to ensure the longer term stability of this unit they are now looking to appoint a Senior Project Manager. Whilst maintaining a primary Project focus your responsibilities will require you to work closely with and in collaboration with management in establishing longer term strategies for the division to ensure sustained packages of work are both tendered for and secured. With a strong understanding of the minerals sector you will be competent in both the front end conceptual design and fi nal project delivery of mining and related infrastructure works. You will be confi dent in establishing client relationships and in doing so become the primary contact throughout each project. Based in Adelaide you will have relevant tertiary qualifi cations, preferably of a Mechanical nature and a signifi cant track record in the successful delivery of major mining projects from either a consultant or mining contractor perspective. You will be both passionate and ambitious when it comes to leading project teams, and above all else be effective in infl uencing and negotiating outcomes which are in the client’s best interests and to their request. For more information regarding this position, please contact David Watson on 1300 764 271 or 0401 903 712. Alternatively send a copy of your CV to david@ctconsult.com.au www.ctconsult.com.au Chris Tan Consulting AEROSPACE • ARCHITECTURE • CHEMICAL • CAD • CIVIL ELECTRICAL • ENVIRONMENTAL • MECHANICAL • STRUCTURAL them in Australia and 200 of them in South Australia) wasAustralia) was imed to coincide conveniently timed to coincide inaugura ted it to SA Unions secretary Janet Giles: Helpful, but 24 hours late. Photo: Stephen Gray The Independent Weekly January 23 - 29, 2009 7 www.independentweekly.com.au E63369